What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 60 Thai children with autism to evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) compared to sham air.
What They Found
Both hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and sham air groups showed significant improvements in mean total Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) scores after intervention compared to baseline (P < 0.001 for parents in both groups). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the average percentage changes of total ATEC scores or subscales when comparing the HBOT and sham air groups. Additionally, changes in Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores were inconsistent between parents and clinicians.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may not offer additional benefits over a placebo for improving behavioral outcomes in children with autism. Canadian patients and their families should be aware that current evidence does not strongly support HBOT as an effective treatment for autism.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted in Thailand with Thai children and has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's limitations include its specific population of 60 Thai children and the relatively short intervention period.